Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
red and forty guns are in place for at

dred and forty guns are IN place ior aF
tack or defence.
Since the revolution in gunncry. YES
sells, and naval warfare many military
men question the value of Gibraltar fof
offensive OF protective purposes. IL Is
doubtful whether it commands the
straits, but it has importance as coal
ing station and as military camp.
Soldiers are disciplined into efficiency
for transfer to India, Africa, and else
where. Gibraltar is largely, and in
war when Spain was hostile, would be
entirely, dependent on Africa for sup
plies OF food. i have seen large guam
titles of beef, vegetables, eggs, poul-
try, &c, in process Of shipment from
Tangier TO the fort. In 1888 and 14ll
the place was taken by starvation.
During the great siege the means OF
subsistence were several times almost
exhausted supplies reached the garri-
son irreeularly and with difficulty /;
roots and wild plants were sought and
greedIly devoured the scurvy pre-
vailed fearfully. The Governor lived
eight days on four ounces OF rice per
day, and gaunt famine was more dread
ed than the deluge of shot and SHE'LL.
THE MARKET.
When visited the market in March
the perfection of cleanliness, system,
and good order-it had any other APP
pearance than that of scarcity and des-
titution. Hunger is mighty leveller,
and English, Spaniard, Moor, Greek,
and Hebrew were bargaining and buy
ing and bawling, Gpite needless Of
creed or race or rank. Immense guam
titles of meat and eggs and poultry
were on hand, the last confined IN
"long cylindrical baskets of cane
work, open at both ends, and secured
by cord netting" Fish seemed to be
abundant and good, vegetables varied
and fresh, oranges, lemons, bananas,
apples, &c, delicious and tempting,
Gibraltar is essentially military
post, but to soften the rigors of martial
law civil magistracy was established
in 1880, and the advantages of civil
liberty were secured to the inhabitants.
Some Of the old regulations show that
the soldiers were harshly treated and
that everything and every person on
the point were subordinated to the
will of those in command. Much fric-
ton naturally arose between the Off
cers, Who had the exclusive power, and
those engaged in trading, and no little
dissatisfaction was engendered. Burns
says:
"When self the wavering balan @ shakes
Its rarely right adjusted"
And at one time the pay and perqui-
sites of the Governor were more than
500, 0O0perannum. His salary was paid
principally out of the income derived
from wine. house licenses, and to keep
up the revenue much encouragement
was given TO the establishment of pub
lie houses and the sale of wine and
spirituous liquors. Discipline was sa ri
feed partially to greed, and riot and
debauchery were shameful. a garrlson
order of 1906 mentions the shameful
drunkenness that had prevailed. To
suppress the sale OF the poison and the
liberty to get drunk to limit the i'm
mense profits on the one hand and the
brutal debauchery on the othcrrequired
a proiracted struggle. A history of Gil
braltar-a valuable compend of in
formation-in describing the efforts of
tie Duke of Kent, when Governor, to
suppress disorders and to reduce, to his
own pccuniary loss, the number of
wine and spirit-houses, mentions the
Establishment OF regimental lean
teens, and the rules for their guidance,
with the accompanying remark that
thus began "the canteen system IN
the British army"